Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-01-05

went from one child's chamber to an
other; every thing in that same de-
pressing order, even their little beds
were unruff1ed, each smooth pillow
looking as if impressed by q sunny
head for, oh, so long
And, ah, misery what was that in
Willie's room in the porcelain vase?
Some white flowers tied with white
satin ribbon. And this heart-break-
ing emblem in Jennie's room? Her
picture, sweet child with crown OF
fading flowers encircling it; and here
in Carries room her picture, the
darling, also crowned with immor-
telles.
And Jacks room. forlorn in it's
5idiness; yes, yes, a funeral wreath In
his room, dear, loving little Jack
Mrs. Jewett's first wild impulse was
to disarrarge everything; the quiet
and palling neatness were goading her
to madness; even kitty had deserted
the sunless, childless house; but the chill
dren-oh, the children! The mother
felt as if her brain were afre, and her
heart was. bursting with it's pent grief;
she could not endure it another mo
ment, and she awoke.
Thank God she was sitting direct
ly in the rare, sweet sunlight which
God made to come in, not to be shut
out of our homes. In the garden she
heard the sweet, delightsome voices of
her children. the blessed children.
Kitty, with futtering little paws,
was clutching with unchecked glee at
the tassels OF the muslin curtain; and
she noticed, with a sigh OF relief, that
the mahogany bureau with it's bur-
nished surface, had been paved with
| fresh finger marks.
Mrs. Jewett arose slowly, locked the
door, then knelt down; after q while
she went forth, a. new quiet In her heart,
a new smile on her face.
In the dinlng-room she raised the
curtains, so that the sunlight danced
gayly through the room.
Jennie came in with g. torn apron,
and was greeted with q smile OF well
come, rent and all.
Willie had been using paste IN the
dining room, and had daubed the
cloth, door-knob and his blouse, but
mamma patiently SHOW ed him how to
clean the spots -sway, and Willie
promised with greed sincerity to be
more careful ssLother time.
The children had a gloriously happy
day. At night, when they were all
asleep, their mo cher went from room
to room, gazing with pure thankful
ness at each darling little sleeper, SO
dear, alb, so dearl She sighed, then
smiled at the little porcelain vase in
Willie's room, filled with sweet wild
flowers of his own plucking.
Then she went to her own room and
tearfully told "father" her terrible
dream.
He kissed his wife's fair brow fondly,
and said soothingly, "Never mind,
dear, we're all right now"
And they were. The timely warn.
ing was not lost on the mothers
heart, for she never forgot how terri
BILE it was when but in dreams she
roamed from one empty, orderly
room to another in quest of her chill
dren, and could not find them. And
she resolved that she would not wait
to place white flowers in their hands
when their perfume could not reach
the dulled senses, and their fading
beauty would only break her heart;
the children should have the flowers
now, while their dear eyes were open
to behold them, and their hearts still
alive to all of earth's comforts and de-
lights.
And we would that many another
wife and mother, who is drifting into
habits of fretfulness and nervousness
through undue care for the children's
bodies rather than their souls, "might
dream this lady's dream"